How to Protect Your Garden From a Heatwave

It’s not new news: The climate is changing.

I grew up in Arizona, where gardening was frustrating, to say the least.

In garden groups, watering philosophy is hotly debated.

Invest in low tunnels and shade cloth

Ditch the umbrellasthey are temporary spot fixes.

Sheets help a little, but what you really want isshade cloth.

This black fabric should be erected like a sail over your most tender garden spots.

it’s possible for you to buy it in various percentages of blockage.

You do not want it touching your plants or vegetablesyou need to allow air flow around them.

Most people rush to protect their nightshades, like tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers.

Peas are a very short season crop.

By the time the heat dome hits, theyre about done for the season anyway.

And I wouldnt bother covering annual flowers.

Your lettuce and cabbage are particularly susceptible, so coverage is ideal.

Anything in that tender, leafy annual group would fall into this designation.

If you water deeply enough, you may not need to water every day.

The key is consistent watering and nutrients.

Avoid surface treatments during a heat wave.

Tender seedlings dont have that, and they need more babying.

That can mean selective shading or hand-watering to supplement what your drip is giving them.

Soaker hoses are great for this.

All this to say, whats happening is not going away.

Its important to think about what you plant and where: Choose plants that are heat- and drought-tolerant.

ensure youre really paying attention to whether the plants want shade or sun, and plant them appropriately.

It keeps moisture in the ground.

Remember you’re able to get free wood chips any time in areas withChip Drop.

Anything that is edible should be brought in.

Even crops you usually let ripen until youre ready to use should be brought in early.

Otherwise, youre inviting them to cook on the vine.

This includes tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, and berries.

confirm youre getting outside to check for ripe goods every evening or morning when its cool enough.